The Happening - The Supremes, 1967

 
 

Hey life, look at me, I can see the reality
Cause when you shook me, took me out of my world
I woke up, suddenly I just woke up to the happening

When you find that you left the future behind
Cause when you got a tender love you don't
Take care of, then you better beware of the happening

One day you're up, then you turn around
You find your world is tumbling down
It happened to me and it can happen to you

I was sure, I felt secure, until love took a detour
Yeah, riding high on top of the world
It happened, suddenly it just happened

I saw my dreams fall apart, when love walked away from my heart
And when you lose that precious love you need to guide you
Something happens inside you, the happening

Now I see life for what it is
It's not all dreams, it's not all bliss
It happened to me and it can happen to you once!

Ooo, and then it happened
Ooo, and then it happened
Ooo, and then it happened
Ooo, and then it happened

Is it real, is it fake, is this game of life a mistake
Cause when I lost the love I thought was mine
For certain, suddenly I start hurting

I saw the light too late, when that fickle finger of fate
Yeah came and broke my pretty balloon
I woke up, suddenly I just walked up to the happening

So sure, I felt secure, until love took a detour
Cause when you got a tender love you don't
Take care of, then you better beware of the happening

 
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If you've seen Dream Girls, you have an idea of the scope of the Supremes' fame through the late 60s and early 70s. Loosely based on Diana Ross and The Supremes, this musical was launched in 1981, and ran for 1522 performances on Broadway (ending up as a motion picture in 2006).

As for The Supremes themselves, they were the most successful band to come out of Motown, racking up 12 number 1 hits between 1964 and 1969. Some of their more notable songs include: Baby Love, Stop in the Name of Love, You can't Hurry Love and Love Child.

The Happening was written by the musical team Holland-Dozier-Holland for a 1967 movie of the same name. The plot revolved around a group of aimless hippies' failed kidnapping of a retired Mafia boss. The movie also failed, but the Supreme's rendition was an unqualified hit - reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.